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House Passes Congressman McNerney's Bipartisan Bill On Energy And Water Efficiency In Federal Buildings

Jun 23, 2014

Press Release

Washington, D.C. – Today the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed Congressman Jerry McNerney’s (CA-09) bipartisan bill to improve the energy and water efficiency of federal buildings.

Rep. McNerney’s bill, HR 4801, would require the Department of Energy to submit a report to Congress on the impact of thermal insulation on energy and water use systems in federal buildings and the return on investment of installing such insulation. The bill was cosponsored by Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL).

“My bill is a commonsense approach to making sure the federal government is doing what it can to save taxpayer money and be more efficient with water and energy use,” said Rep. McNerney. “I’m pleased that members on both sides of the aisle agree on the value of using technology to maximize efficiency in our federal buildings. I am confident the data we gather through this study will help both the public and private sectors invest wisely in energy- and water-saving technologies.”

Rep. McNerney’s bill has drawn support from industry groups like the National Insulation Association (NIA) and International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO). “We’d like to congratulate Rep. McNerney on passage of this bill,” said NIA Executive Vice President and CEO Michele Jones. “The National Insulation Association (NIA) and its members are thrilled to see members of Congress taking active leadership roles in bringing this simple but far-reaching technology into the spotlight.”

IAPMO also praised Rep. McNerney, saying in a letter: ”As the single largest consumer of energy in the country, the federal government should do its best to conserve resources and cut spending wherever possible. H.R. 4801 provides a clear mechanism for this to be achieved and is another step towards a viable energy strategy for the future.”

The NIA estimates that thermal insulation in commercial and industrial buildings could save $4.8 billion a year, as well as creating nearly 90,000 jobs. The carbon emission reduction would be the equivalent of removing 8 million cars from U.S. roadways.